• M J A Loos, R M H Roumen, and M R M Scheltinga.
• Department of Surgery, Máxima Medical Centre, PO Box 7777, De Run, 4600, Veldhoven, The Netherlands. M.Loos@mmc.nl
• World J Surg. 2007 Sep 1; 31 (9): 1760-5; discussion 1766-7.

BackgroundChronic post-herniorrhaphy pain is diverse in origin. The aim of our study was to classify post-herniorrhaphy pain syndromes following elective inguinal hernia repair.Patients And MethodsAll patients with an elective inguinal hernia repair performed between January 2000 and August 2005 received a questionnaire evaluating chronic inguinal pain (visual analog scale, VAS 0-10). Patients with moderate to severe pain complaints (VAS score >or= 3) were invited for an interview and an outpatient department physical examination.ResultsA total of 2,164 cases underwent an elective hernia repair and received the questionnaire; 1,766 individuals responded (response rate: 81.6%). Moderate to severe pain was present in 211 patients (11.9%). Follow-up was performed in 148 patients. Three separate groups of diagnoses were identified. Group I: neuropathic pain (n = 72) indicating inguinal nerve damage; group II: non-neuropathic pain (n = 40) due to an array of diagnoses including periostitis (n = 18) and recurrent hernia (n = 13); and group III: a tender spermatic cord and/or a tight feeling in the lower abdomen (n = 43).ConclusionsChronic pain following elective hernia repair is common and diverse in etiology but may allow for a classification contributing to the development of tailored treatment regimens.

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